California to 101 Oregon coast, then 5 on return
 

My family of four will be leaving Santa Rosa, Ca. and head for a family reunion outside of Portland. We thought we would take the coastal route arriving, and then return through Eugene(our daughter wants to see the University of Oregon),ending up in Sacramento. I have planned several stops along the way, but just wanted to check out our itinerary with you good folks as I have never visited there before.See any Glitches?<BR>Day 1: Eureka Best Western Bayshore Inn<BR>Day 2: Bandon Inn At Face Rock<BR>Day 3 Newport Newport Inn and Suites<BR>Day 4 and 5 Family Reunion in Portland<BR>Day 6 Grants Pass La Quinta Inn and Suites<BR>Day 7 Sacramento Embassy Suites Thanks!

You can actually easily make the drive from Portland to Sacramento in one day. There's no need to stop for a night in Grants Pass. I'd use that extra day on your drive up or in Portland.

mjames: It would be hard to drive all the way to Sacramento since you plan on visiting the university. Your itinerary is pretty good. Grants Pass is a reasonable place to stop - Or you could go a little farther and stay in Ashland or even Mt Shasta in California.<BR><BR>But your plan is just fine.

I agree, but also might suggest that if you pushed on an extra 30 min. you could stay in Medford instead of Grants Pass, then go into Ashland for dinner and maybe even catch a play at the Shakespeare Festival, http://orshakes.org<BR><BR>A whole day to cover Bandon to Newport means you'll have p-l-e-n-t-y of time to see sights. Be sure to stop for pictures (including from the beach) at Heceta Head, a little north of Florence. "The" lighthouse-postcard view of the Oregon coast.<BR><BR>Check out the Samoa Cookhouse in Samoa, across the bay from Eureka. The food is only okay, but the scene is a blast.

I'd push on to Shasta Lake for the night. It's a scenic area and you'll have a head start into Sacramento.

Thank you all for your great replies and advise.It's great to hear it from those who have been there! Melissa

Meilssa,<BR><BR>Concerning Eureka, I lived near there for 4 years and would highly recommend these restaurants:<BR><BR>Tomaso's (Italian)<BR>Sea Grill (seafood - a little pricey)<BR><BR>I can't help you with the travel/routes because when we lived there, we did the going south trek, making many trips to the Bay area. I'm sure you know that it will only take about 4 - 5 hours to get to Eureka from Santa Rosa. <BR><BR>Enjoy your trip.

mjanes<BR>Sounds like a nice trip. Hope you make time for a walk in the redwoods. the Best Western Bayshore Inn is on the south end of town near the mall. Fast food nearby.<BR>Tomaso was in Eureka but it is now closed. The Sea grill is still open.<BR>My wife will kill me for saying this but I like the Cafe Waterfront for seafood good shellfish. From some seats you can see the bay. The new boardwalk also is right there.<BR> <BR>

Be sure to reserve rooms in advance, especially along I-5. We drove to California from Portland a couple of years ago in August and got to the Shasta area in late afternoon, and I started calling hotels listed in the AAA book on my cell phone. All the hotels were booked. In fact, we found that all along I-5. We found nice ones, but we didn't get to pick our locations.

There's really no lodging at Lake Shasta. You'd probably have to stay in Redding. Stay in Mt. Shasta where there is at least nice scenery. The drive down I 5 from Redding to Sacramento is dreadful. Why stop in Sacramento for the night when the driving difference between Sacramento and Santa Rosa is only 1 more hour?

When will the Embassy Suites in Sacramento open? Not open yet. It was supposed to open for Jazz Jubilee but didn't. No news yet.

Embassy Suites in Sacto should be open on the 13th ? We have reservations to stay there on the 18th and I keep calling to check and make sure they WILL be open. They are assuring me they will! It looks like a great location.

I just returned to Seattle from a version of your route - south all the way to LA on 101, returned yesterday (and day before) via I-5. 2 1/2 days southbound, 1 3/4 days northbound. (I've done this drive maybe 50 times so no mysteries.) Let me know if you want info on road conditions, new places or old ones vanished, etc. I can recommend a couple of places not to eat.<BR><BR>The coolest things were two animals-in-the-road hit-the-brakes sightings: a bobcat near the Astoria bridge, then a pretty good sized black bear lumbering across the road north of Coos Bay.

Susan, today is the 12. Still nothing in the news about Embassy opening. Is that sweat I see on your brow? ;) Hope it works out for you by the 18th. Yes nice location.

Suzie, see my new post titled, Sacramento Sheraton! (Yes, that is sweat on my brow :-\).

Kal was at the Sheraton Grand on Memorial Day Weekend. I was going to suggest you try that as an alternative in case there are more delays. I see on the web site that Embassy is taking internet reservations for dates on or after the 17th. Boy you'd just squeak by wouldn't you!